St. James City: Demographics & People
St. James City's population stands at 3,412 people, in 1,656 households. Population shrank 11.3% from 3,846 (2022) to 3,412 (2024). Median age 64.7 years. (15.7y older than Lee County; 22.1y older than Florida). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 94% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 70% of households are family-led. County is gaining 14,133 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 31% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Florida avg 2.6).
- 30% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Florida 35%).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 11.3% from 3,846 (2022) to 3,412 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,037 (extrapolated at -5.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,580.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 760,822 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -11.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,846 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,412 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 3,412 people (vs Florida 58,838) |
| Population Estimate | 2,580 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 64.7y is 25.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 64.7 years (vs Florida 40.9y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 8.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Population under 18 | 299 |
| Median age | 64.7 years (vs Florida 40.9y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 3,412 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,615 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 15 |
| Asian residents | 23 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 45 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 4.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.8% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Florida 2.5%) |
| Black population | 0.2% (vs Florida 13.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.5% (vs Florida 23.4%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 94.1% (vs Florida 46.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 585 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,623 |
| Share born in this state | 17.1% |
| Share born in another state | 82.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 76.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 134 |
| From Europe | 77 |
| From Africa | 12 |
Households & Family Composition
1,656 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 70% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,225 families, 12% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 358 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,225 |
| Married couples with children | 147 |
| Single-parent households | 43 |
| Average household size | 2.08 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 6.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 8,337 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 4,209 |
| Family households | 1,165 households (vs Florida 15,074) |
| Households that are families | 70.4% (vs Florida 64.6%) |
| Total households | 1,656 households (vs Florida 22,144) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 20.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 14,133 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 20.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 731,638 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 717,505 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 14,133 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 289 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.3% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 19 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | FL-19 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 12,071 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 12 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 71 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Lee |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 17.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 19.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 12,071 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Lee County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 31,005 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 12,071 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Lee County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 75.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 64.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 46.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 770,577 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 8.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,412, shrinking, retirement community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,412 people (vs Florida 58,838) |
| Town Summary · County | Lee County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade